The PL/SQL Challenge (www.plsqlchallenge.com) offers a daily quiz on the PL/SQL language, through which thousands of Oracle technologists demonstrate and deepen their knowledge of PL/SQL. This blog contains posts by the PL/SQL Challenge founder, Steven Feuerstein, as well as comments from players.

06 January 2011

Many more reasons to play the PL/SQL Challenge in January!

We hope that you had a fine new year's celebration (assuming, that is, that you celebrate the new year on 1 January), took some time away from PL/SQL and the rest of your professional responsibilities, and re-charged those batteries.

That must have been what happened - because we saw the number of players slide downwards and Christmas and New Year's approached. But we forgive you and to make sure you "come back" to the PL/SQL Challenge, we are offering lots of raffle prizes this month - and you are eligible to win simply by playing (plus, the more you play, the greater your chances of winning).

7 comments:

I'm afraid I fall into the "took some time away from PL/SQL and the rest of your professional responsibilities" category.

I usually play Pl/SQL challenge even when on holiday (to the extent that I burnt the toast while camping last year as I was trying to load the site through a really slow wifi on our campsite) but I just never seemed to find the time in between visiting friends and family, watching some films with my wife when she wasn't working and attempting to teach my 19 month old son about magnetic polarity using the small magnets on his new Thomas the Tank Engine train set.

I'm be back playing now though and needed no additional incentive......however I am keen to get a hold of the Whisky yearbook. Would you accept a bribe? ;-)

BTW, I have no need for any "gifts" or "prizes". All I'm interesting is comparative rankings.Is it possible to have checkbox in profile to indicate that everything related to monetary “prizes” is not interesting for player? Or something like that?

You can check a box to indicate that you do not want to compete, just play for educational purposes (see Preferences in Edit Profile). You will then also not be ranked.

If this is not what you want, could you please describe further? If you indicated 'everything related to monetary “prizes” is not interesting for player', how would you see that affecting your experience at the PL/SQL Challenge?

Steven, I position myself as “advanced“. Publicly advanced. I couldn’t and don't want play educationally.I personally don’t want to be listed as randomly selected prize-taker. Thankfully it didn’t happen yet.But I definitely desire to be listed as really deserved player. Being third in Q3 playoff I had not used my “prize”.Playing further I am interesting in ranking and in correctness, public and comparative, but not in prizes.I want that winner and winner’s prize could be distinguished. And winner (by his/her will) could have no prize.

Steven, I position myself as “advanced“. Publicly advanced. I couldn’t and don’t want play educationally.I personally don’t want to be listed as randomly selected prize-taker. Thankfully it didn’t happen yet.But I definitely desire to be listed as really deserved player. Being third in Q3 playoff I had not used my “prize”.Playing further I am interesting in ranking and in correctness, public and comparative, but not in prizes.I want that winner and winner’s prize could be distinguished. And winner (by his/her will) could have no prize.

Fascinating. Thanks for clarifying, Vitaliy. I will add this to our ER list. It would be interesting to know how many other players feel the same way. Which I will be able to do more easily when I implement polls later this year.